Here's my thinking. The last thing the offense needs is some more youth to look even more lost. I'm not trying to build a team with a 7 year build up to greatness. I think Heckert could assemble a squad to compete with the likes of mediocre Cincy, declining Pittsburgh and soon to be declining Baltimore starting next season.

The Offense:

Add Brad Childress as OC: Crucial we get an experienced guy to run the game day machine.

Bring back Hillis. Bring back Brandon Jackson,Hillis,Ogbanaya and Hardesty. Sign Leron McLain or Jason Snelling to play FB. Add in a late round rookie to compete in training camp. Davin Meggett form Maryland or Jeff Demps from Florida.

Couple problems with that. Pittsburgh isn't declining. Baltimore has a chance to win the Super Bowl this year. Cincy is likely to get better, not worse.

And Holmgren the Bully flat out came out and said they ain't gonna be signing many free agents at all. Right after he told us not to come groveling to him on our hands and knees for playoff tickets.

Other than that, great plan. ;-)

It all depends on what you want. If you wanna guarantee 8 wins next year, this is the best plan. If you want to try and win a Super Bowl, you need an elite QB. Matt Flynn could possibly be one. The chances are greater that RG3 becomes one though.

"It's like dating a woman who hates you so much she will never break up with you, even if you burn down the house every single autumn." ~ Chuck Klosterman on Browns fans relationship with the Browns

Here's my thought - this team has many holes, and I'm sure that they'll use a combination of FA and the draft to try and fill as many as possible. The one I'm most concerned with getting filled is the QB.

Flynn isn't my first choice, but I wouldn't hate signing him either. There are positives that can be had from him, not the least of which is being free to use that #4 however they want. Probably not a long-term solution, but at least a solution.

Unlike the utter bullshit that I hear on the radio about giving Colt another year, as if b/c Troy Aikman was 1-15 and terrible his first year that McCoy will somehow become Aikman.

You're too greedy though. All those FA's... they have cap space, but probably not that much. You only need one of those WR's (Bowe, Colston, etc). Bowe, Little, Norwood, Cribbs isn't nearly as bad as you think. I'd take it in a heartbeat, so long as we had a QB that could get them the ball.

I like the thinking but my 1994 Christmas list was more realistic for Christs sake. The WR proposal alone, if they were to make that come true, we'd have the best corps in the league. Matt Flynn? I just don't know, seems like too much of a roll of the dice at this point. The main idea - offense FA, defense draft, I like that, and think it would be the best way to go forward.

Walrus and Heckert have flat out said they're not going to sign a lot of FA. And have signed none the last two years.

This is dismissing the fact that all these legit offensive FA's would actually have to want to come here to play for this perennial loser franchise with our mouth breather head coach, the king of the 4 yard out pattern

"It's like dating a woman who hates you so much she will never break up with you, even if you burn down the house every single autumn." ~ Chuck Klosterman on Browns fans relationship with the Browns

swerb wrote:Walrus and Heckert have flat out said they're not going to sign a lot of FA.

And other sources say they are hair on fire ready to win now. You can't do that via draft alone. So I don't know what to believe.

And Pittsburgh's defense looks on the decline to me based on the Denver game. When they play a team with the O talent to mke them not play all downhill, they looked slow and the young DLmen drafted high didn't look all that great to me.

swerb wrote:Walrus and Heckert have flat out said they're not going to sign a lot of FA.

And other sources say they are hair on fire ready to win now. You can't do that via draft alone. So I don't know what to believe.

They're lying when their lips move. Pay attention to what they've done as opposed to what they say. Is there history of these guys using big draft picks for QBs or is there history in them/him finding a QB on another roster and bringing him in?

Not saying they won't flip the script, but if I were a wagering man....

And yeah, they run the risk of e0y2e3 laughing at their choice and us. But I'm already beyond that. Everyone else is already laughing...

Any thread that proposes we sign 5 of the Top maybe 8 FA's on the market is an instant classic to me.

We may do 2 of those offensive things.

As for the defense, remains to be seen how much we add but don't think it will be nearly as much as has been suggested here.

Playing here is the closest thing to heaven. Really, I mean it's amazing to be in a place where the fans truly cherish their football team and stick behind them win or lose. We players love them, too. I feel a sense of accomplishment playing here, we are a special breed of football players with a great opportunity." ~ tOSU LB Brian Rolle

-This organization is viewed as a consistent joke by players and management around the league.

-This team will be lucky to hit .500 this year.

-This team will be lucky to be good in 2 years, let alone within 1.

-This team has a hellish history of staph and other crap along that path.

If we can get this team to look legitimate, and have a solid franchise QB in place, then yeah, I think we can starting landing FA's, but this is not the case.

Until then, going draft heavy and praying Heckert hits on a few is our only option.

Swerb wrote:Go start a blog if you want to tell the world your incomprehendible ramblings.

Cerebral_DownTime wrote:I have a big arm and can throw the ball pretty damn far...... maybe even over those moutains. The Browns should sign me, i'll let you all in locker room to drink beer. Then we can all go out the parking lot to watch me do motorcycle stunts.

Meachem has been an oft injured disappointment but will definitely go to a team like Cincy that has none of the things mentioned upstream.

Garcon is shit.

Nicks/Flynn? Meh. You're going to be paying Flynn based on that last game, not based on his potential. I'm not saying I don't get down on it, I'm just saying......with that kind of a contract, it would be difficult for him to live up to it. Better chance he goes to Seattle or Miami or....

Check me out at Dawgsbynature, where I write stuff, or @twitter as Josh Finney.

Have you seen Garcon in 2011? He has been pretty good with QB's alot worse than McCoy. 70 catches for 947 yards. Beats the crap out of Mo Mass.( 31 catches for 384). He has been taught how to run routes like a pro in Indy.

I think the QB question ultimately comes down to whether or not we/TPTB (the powers that be) feel there is a better QB than RG3 (or whomever else is left) coming via draft in the next season or two. B/C frankly no matter who we draft this year, assuming we are relatively quiet in FA, we most likely are not making the playoffs in 2013. So a stop gap (with the chance to see if there is any further potential) just could be the way they go based upon future college QB prospects.

As a fan I've come to the conclusion that Steve Winwood spoke about, if you see a chance take it.

Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honor, respect."I heard your dog is sick, so bought you this shovel"

FUDU wrote:I think the QB question ultimately comes down to whether or not we/TPTB (the powers that be) feel there is a better QB than RG3 (or whomever else is left) coming via draft in the next season or two. B/C frankly no matter who we draft this year, assuming we are relatively quiet in FA, we most likely are not making the playoffs in 2013. So a stop gap (with the chance to see if there is any further potential) just could be the way they go based upon future college QB prospects.

As a fan I've come to the conclusion that Steve Winwood spoke about, if you see a chance take it.

I'm sure TPTB don't give a damn about who's coming out in the draft in 2013 or 2014. God himself could be declaring for the draft as a QB next year - there's no guarantee they'd be in position to take him.

Even as bad as the Browns were this year, they're only #4. Even with Colt at QB, they'll probably be somewhat better next season. So it's really unlikely they'll be drafting this high again. As a Front Office, you certainly can't count on it (as well you shouldn't).

As far as addressing the QB, or ANY position, there is only 2012. We know what our options are right now - we have no clue about 2013 and beyond. Who comes out, who gets injured, who rises, who falls, what teams are worse, where the Browns pick, which teams need QB's... way to many factors to say "We'll just get our QB next year".

With Philbin going to Miami, and Miami needing a QB, you have to believe that how Miami approaches their QB situation should be an indicator of how we should view Flynn.

Miami has to be in the market for a new QB. It would stand to reason that Team with a QB need + new head coach from GB + best FA QB happens to be from GB = Flynn in Miami. Now, logic states that Miami should be the team hottest for Flynn. Not in a position to draft Luck or RG3, new coach wanting his personnel, etc.

And much like LeBron...money being equal, Flynn goes to South Beach. Unless Miami doesn't pursue Flynn. THEN STAY AWAY. Double edged sword...If Flynn is worth pursuing as "the guy", Miami and Philbin get him unless someone pays ridiculous money + years. If Miami doesn't strongly pursue Flynn, the Philbin knows something and we should avoid like the plague. Basically, the only way you get him is to top Miami's best offer, and by a good chunk I'd have to imagine. I don't see Flynn coming to Cleveland.

Doc wrote:With Philbin going to Miami, and Miami needing a QB, you have to believe that how Miami approaches their QB situation should be an indicator of how we should view Flynn.

Miami has to be in the market for a new QB. It would stand to reason that Team with a QB need + new head coach from GB + best FA QB happens to be from GB = Flynn in Miami. Now, logic states that Miami should be the team hottest for Flynn. Not in a position to draft Luck or RG3, new coach wanting his personnel, etc.

And much like LeBron...money being equal, Flynn goes to South Beach. Unless Miami doesn't pursue Flynn. THEN STAY AWAY. Double edged sword...If Flynn is worth pursuing as "the guy", Miami and Philbin get him unless someone pays ridiculous money + years. If Miami doesn't strongly pursue Flynn, the Philbin knows something and we should avoid like the plague. Basically, the only way you get him is to top Miami's best offer, and by a good chunk I'd have to imagine. I don't see Flynn coming to Cleveland.

Spot on here, and I would add that if anyone is going to go batshit crazy with money, it will be Miami. Stephen Ross is on the brink down there.

Christ, when you chopper in a guy with Jeff Fisher's career mark, you know things are out of hand.

Doc wrote:With Philbin going to Miami, and Miami needing a QB, you have to believe that how Miami approaches their QB situation should be an indicator of how we should view Flynn.

Miami has to be in the market for a new QB. It would stand to reason that Team with a QB need + new head coach from GB + best FA QB happens to be from GB = Flynn in Miami. Now, logic states that Miami should be the team hottest for Flynn. Not in a position to draft Luck or RG3, new coach wanting his personnel, etc.

And much like LeBron...money being equal, Flynn goes to South Beach. Unless Miami doesn't pursue Flynn. THEN STAY AWAY. Double edged sword...If Flynn is worth pursuing as "the guy", Miami and Philbin get him unless someone pays ridiculous money + years. If Miami doesn't strongly pursue Flynn, the Philbin knows something and we should avoid like the plague. Basically, the only way you get him is to top Miami's best offer, and by a good chunk I'd have to imagine. I don't see Flynn coming to Cleveland.

Good stuff, although as someone that lived in Miami I dispute that everyone is just dying to live there. It's a shithole. I'd rather live almost anywhere else. Give me Detroit in January over Miami in August.

Flynn will choose Miami b/c of Philbin and b/c that's a team that is just a QB away from being dangerous. That's if Miami wants him. I think the Fins are watching the Peyton Manning situation closely. And I wouldn't blame even Philbin for pursuing Manning over Flynn - that's not a black mark on Flynn so much as it's a nod to Manning.

Let's remember that Flynn/Manning to Miami means that one team is out of the RG3 running, leaving us and basically Washington as serious threats to move up to #2.

Manning goes to Miami, Flynn goes to Washington, the Browns can sit tight at 4.